The Unofficial State Cars of America

If you were to take a list of the most popular cars in each state in the U.S., it'd be a pretty monotonous list. A bunch of Ford F-150s, some Chevy Silverado and Ram pickups, the odd Honda Accord or Toyota Camry here or there.

But we were curious: What car was the most distinctive in each state? What model of car did, say, California buy far more often than any other state in the Union? We turned to auto analyst Tom Libby of IHS Automotive to help us crunch the numbers. First, Libby pulled data about the make and model of every car sold in the U.S., and calculated the popularity of each by percentage using registration data. Then, he did the same at the state level, and compared each state to the national average.

"I compared the share for each model in, for instance, Alabama with the share of the same of model in the United States and came up with a ratio," says Libby. "Then I basically ranked those ratios within each state. It's an interesting methodology—you're basically able to compare the individual demand of a model in a state with the individual demand at the national level, and see what ways is each state unique from the nation."

Some states seem to conform to stereotypes—Texas loves the hulking Cadillac Escalade EXT, NPR-loving New England enjoys their Volvos, and in the rough country of North Dakota they love the GMC Yukon Denali XL. But there are surprises: Georgia, for instance, seems to have a thing for Nissan Leaf. "Georgia had very, very strong incentives to buy electric vehicles," says Libby, referencing the fact that until very recently, the Peach State offered $5,000 in state tax credits (in addition to $7,500 in federal tax credits) to anyone who bought an electric vehicle. In other words, everyone who bough a Nissan Leaf in Georgia saved themselves a cool $12,500.

"The data does reveal interesting patterns," says Libby. "And because based on registration data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, it's census data. It's not sample based. It's not something where I think it's this, you think it's that. It's hard data. It's irrefutable." In other words: if you're not pleased with your state's unofficial state car, blame your neighbors, not the numbers.

The full list of each state's unofficial state car follows, along with additional comments from Libby's extensive data analysis.

In Alabama, the Kia Forte sells at 286 percent of the national average.

In Alaska, the Subaru WRX sells at 341 percent of the U.S. average, while the Outback, XV Crosstrek and Forester all have market shares in Alaska more than twice the U.S. average.

In Arizona, the Fiat 500L sells at 238 percent of the national average, while the Fiat 500 sells at 1.7 times the national average.

In Arkansas, the GMC Yukon sells at 407 percent the national average, and GMC models in general are extremely popular in the Diamond State.

The Kia Soul EV sells at 667 percent of the national average in California, (this may be because it's only available in a few select states). Electric vehicles in general are popular in California thanks to its Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, with the BMW i3 and Tesla Model S having California market shares more than three times their national averages.

In Colorado, the Nissan Xterra sells at 524 percent the national average, while six Subaru models. including the Impresa, XV Crosstrek, Outback, Legacy, WRX and Forester all have market shares more than twice their national averages in the Rocky Mountain State.

In Connecticut, the Subaru Impreza sells at 441 percent the national average, while five Volvo models, including the XC70, V60 Cross Country, S80, S60 and XC60, all have market shares in Connecticut more than twice their national averages.

In Delaware, the Volvo S80 sells at 345 percent the national average, while the Aston Martin Vantage's market share in Delaware is more than two and a half times its U.S. market share.

In the District of Columbia, the Jaguar XK sells at 752 percent the national average. Four premium vehicles, including the Jaguar XK, Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and Jaguar XJ, all have market shares in the District of Columbia more than six times their national averages.

In Florida, the BMW 760 sells at 623 percent the national average. Three Rolls Royce models, including the Phantom, Ghost and Wraith, all have market shares in Florida more than three times their national averages.

In Georgia, the Nissan Leaf sells at 1,523 percent the national average, thanks in part to the (recently discontinued) $5,000 state tax credit towards the purchase of an electric vehicle.

In Hawaii, the Toyota Tacoma sells at 718 percent of the national average.

In Idaho, the Subaru Outback sells at 275 percent of the national average.

In Illinois, the Dodge Caravan sells at 291 percent of the national average, while the Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport each have market shares more than twice their national market shares.

In Indiana, the Buick Encore sells at 249 percent of the national average.

In Iowa, Ram trucks sells at 384 percent of the national average. Iowa loves its domestic vehicles: The twenty-six models in Iowa with the highest market shares, when compared to their national market shares, are all made by domestic manufacturers.

In Kansas, the Audi S6 sells at 243 percent of the national average. In Kansas the Porsche 918 also sells at more than twice its national rate—though there are only 190 Porsche 918s in the entire U.S.

In Kentucky, Kia Rio sells at 229 percent of the national average. Not selling well in Kentucky? The Tesla Model S, which has a market share equal to only 25 percent of its national market share.

In Louisiana, the BMW 760 sells at 854 percent of the national average. They like them large: in Louisiana eight full-size SUVs have market shares more than twice their national market shares.

In Maine, the Volvo V60 Cross Country sells at 554 percent of the national average. In addition, five Subaru models, including the Impreza, Forester, XV Crosstrek, Outback and Legacy, all have market shares more than twice their national market shares.

In Maryland, the MINI Clubman sells at 383 percent of the national average. Not popular in Maryland? Lincoln models, including the MKC, MKX and Navigator, all of which have market shares of less than half their national market shares.

In Massachusetts, the Volvo XC70 sells at 305 percent the national average. Another four Volvo models, the V60 Cross Country, S80, XC90 and XC60, each have market shares equal to more than twice their national market shares.

In Michigan, the Lincoln MKS sells 631 percent of the national average.

In Minnesota, the Ford Taurus sells at 271 percent of the national average. In addition, the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series each have market shares more than one and a half times their national shares.

In Mississippi, the Nissan Maxima sells at 484 percent of the national average. In Mississippi three Nissan models, including the Maxima, Titan, and Armada, each have market shares more than four times their national averages.

In Missouri, the Dodge Caravan sells at 208 percent of the national average.

In Montana, the Ram 1500 sells at 397 percent of the national average. In Montana three exotic models, including the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Porsche 918 and Aston Martin Vanquish, sell at more than five times their national averages, with the Ferrari selling at more than nine times its national average. However, this is likely because Montana levies no sales tax, and allow owners to form LLCs and register their supercar in Montana, even if their main residence is in another state.

In Nebraska, the Chevrolet Suburban sells at 260 percent of the national average. In Nebraska the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 each sell at a rate more than twice their respective national averages.

In Nevada, the Fiat 500L sells at 388 percent of the national average. In Nevada the Rolls Royce Wraith and Bentley Mulsanne and Continental each sell at more than twice their national rates.

In New Hampshire, the Volvo V60 Cross Country sells at 597 percent of the national average.

In New Jersey, the Audi S6 sells at 260 percent of the national average. In New Jersey six Audi models, including the S6, A4, A6, A5, A3 and Q7, each sell at a rate more than twice their respective national averages.

In New Mexico, the Buick Verano sells at 415 percent of the national average. In addition, three Nissan models, including the Cube, Titan and Xterra, each have market shares more than twice their national averages.

In New York Cadillac Escalade EXT sells at 502 percent of the national average.

In North Carolina, the Kia K900 sells at 239 percent of the national average. In addition, three exotic models, including the McLaren MP4 and P1 and Aston Martin Vantage, each sell at a rate more than twice the national average

In North Dakota, the GMC Yukon Denali XL sells at 567 percent of the national average. In North Dakota three versions of the GMC Yukon, including the Denali XL, XL and Denali each sell at a rate more than four times the national average

In Ohio, the Chevrolet Cruze sells at 201 percent of the national average. In Ohio the Chevrolet Avalanche, Cruze and Equinox each sell at a rate of about twice the national average.

In Oklahoma, the Ford Expedition sells at 266 percent of the national average. In Oklahoma four large pickups, the Titan, Silverado, Ram and F-Series, each sell at a rate more than twice the national average .

In Oregon, the Smart Fortwo sells at 462 percent of the national average. In Oregon three sub-compact cars, including the Smart Fortwo, Mercedes-Benz B-Class and Chevrolet Spark, each sell at a rate more than three times the national average.

In Pennsylvania, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport sells at 298 percent of the national average.

in Rhode Island, the Hyundai Elantra Coupe sells at 452 percent of the national average. In Rhode Island four Volvo models, including the V60 Cross Country, XC70, S60 and XC60, all sell at a rate more than twice their national averages.

In South Carolina, (where BMW has a large manufacturing plant)the BMW 760 sells at 935 percent of the national average.

In South Dakota, the Lincoln MKT sells at 641 percent of the national average. In South Dakota the Aston Martin DB9 and Vanquish each have market shares more than five times their respective national averages.

In Tennessee, where the Smyrna Nissan plant builds several models, the Nissan Titan sells at 337 percent of the national average. In Tennessee nine Nissan or Infiniti models sell at more than twice their national rates.

In Texas, the Cadillac Escalade EXT sells at 343 percent of the national average. In Texas, known for large vehicles, the sub-compact Mazda2's market share is more than three times its national average.

In Utah, the Volkswagen Touareg sells at 366 percent of the national average.

In Vermont, the Volvo V60 Cross Country sells at 841 percent of the national average. In Vermont three Volvo models, including the V60 Cross Country, XC70 and S80, each sell at a rate more than four times their respective national averages.

In Virginia, the Audi S3 sells at 343 percent of the national average. In Virginia the five models with the highest market shares, when compared to their national market shares, are all luxury models, including the Lexus IS-F, Audi S3, Volvo XC90, Acura TL and Volvo XC70.

In Washington, the Nissan Leaf sells at 407 percent of the national average. In addition, three electric vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3 and Tesla Model S, each sell at a rate more than twice their national rates. This is likely because in Washington, all electric vehicles are exempt from state motor vehicle sales tax and use tax.

In West Virginia, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport sells at 403 percent of the national average.

In Wisconsin, the Dodge Caravan sells at 388 percent of the national average. In addition, the Rolls Royce Phantom sells at more than twice the rate it sells nationally.

In Wyoming, the Nissan Titan sells at 476 percent of the national average. The Nissan Titan and Ram 1500 each have market shares more than four times their national market shares in Wyoming.

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